juncture

For the foreseeable future has come to its apex.  This Saturday will mark my sixth week selling succulents at the farmers market and my last (for now at least).  The market has been going really well, but upon closer inspection, every week I've been making a profit of about seven dollars.  Even though I'm breaking even, I still have to pay for supplies and keep it all up on a weekly basis.  I knew that would be the case going into it and it's never been about the money, but I've reached a financial turning point in my life that needs to be more aggressively followed.  

There is something about being in my mid-20s that suck.  Ever since I finished college it's been like this.  Just because I'm married doesn't make this annoying, unsettling "where am I going and why don't I have the career/money/experience to get there faster?" point in life any easier (my husband's in the same boat).  Although the succulent business is something I'm still pursuing whole heartily, there is a precipice looming yonder that can switch my life from limbo to feeling a hell of a lot more in control.    

My husband and I have a dream and it's a big one, we want to buy a house.   Like any normal newlyweds we dream of a cozy little home to own, but always thought it would come 3 or 4 years down the road.  Upon further inspection of our finances that dream can come a lot sooner than we anticipated.  If we skimp and save every single penny, we can start looking for our dream home by Thanksgiving.  I repeat, November, turkey and stuffing, Autumn, orange leaves, and there we'll be getting approved to start shopping for the biggest purchase of our lives.

I've wanted a house to call my own for as long as I can remember.  I moved a lot as a child and as an adult, I can't say there has ever been a time where I've truly felt at home.  Maybe I just have control issues, or lack thereof, but when you own your own home and live in your own house no one can tell you what to do (maybe I just need a psychiatrist rather than a mortgage).  Even if I sound a little crazy, this dream trumps all, even my fledgling succulent business.  

We don't want any old house, we want a homestead, at least half an acre where we can have a huge garden, a barn/workshop, chickens, and maybe even some goats.  If the property is big enough, when our family expands, so could the house, and the potential to never have to move again is possible.  In North County San Diego (the only place I could really call home) there are some neighborhoods that are convenient to everything, but retain that citrus orchard feel with reasonable prices.  

a girl can dream

For the record, I am not quitting on my business, no sir I am not, I'm just scaling back and heading in a slightly different direction.  Here are the next 4 steps for little grey gull:

1) I want to expand this blog.  I do a lot more than grow succulents and buy junk.  Expanding my posts to include more of my crafts, cooking, and general life would be a good use of promoting my brand. I guess it can't hurt the internet to add another young woman blogging about her life as an eco-friendly do-it-yourselfer.

2) I want to promote and sell my vintage succulent arrangements for more specific purposes, like events or businesses.  Tailoring my pieces to act as centerpieces at a wedding or restaurant is the whole reason I wanted to do this in the first place.

3) I'm looking into an Etsy shop for "assemble it yourself" vintage succulents arrangements and my block printed canvas totes.

4) I am not done with the markets, I just think it would work a better on a seasonal basis.  Probably around Christmas time, I will do some craft shows or markets to sell my stuff as holiday gifts (if I'm not too overwhelmed by being a new homeowner).

So, long story short, come see me for the last time at the farmers market this Saturday, and get ready to see a lot more posts about my forcibly frugal life.

all that glitters is junk

I have this little problem (that I can picture myself one day being on an episode of hoarders) where I like to buy junk.  Whenever I have some extra cash, I don't think about blowing it at the mall but at the flea market. These last couple of Sundays I've gone to the flea market without my husband which I quickly learned is a bad/really good idea.  

He is always my voice of reason, the "we don't need that" little angel on my shoulder.  Sometimes I agree with him and move on, sometimes I reluctantly agree but look back with regret, and other times I persist and throw down cash, opinions be damned.  "I need this metal pie safe, it is completely necessary for my well being and you can't stop me."  I've gotten a lot better about things I can and can't live without, but lately it seems as if I can't live without anything.  My current obsessions are tin/metal, glass, and anything utilitarian i.e. objects that served a specific basic function that nobody really thought about too much.  

The problem is, while I sometimes picture these items decorating my current or future house or as a planter for my succulent business, most of the time I want it and buy it because I want it and have to buy it.  I recently came into possession of one of those carts seen at flea markets and anywhere with a homeless population (insert image of me turning into a crazy old lady here).  I filled it to the brim with treasures my first week out alone, my husband didn't say much about my trove, he's gotten used to the fact that our money somehow turns into rusty metal and random portraits of old men (the native american man in our bedroom needs a companion, duh).

an old chicken feed trough I intend to plant herbs in on our patio

He can't complain, we share this obsession together, for every useless tin can and glass bottle I pick up, he is eyeing the rusty old tools and vinyl records.  It really all ebbs and flows for me, there are times where the cart is full and the junk flows like wine and others where life goes on, the cart collecting dust, waiting for new friends to arrive.

I will be at the Golden Hill Farmers Market tomorrow from 9:30-1:30 with several new arrangements.  I'm also always available to do custom arrangements in your junk or mine.  Or if you are looking for a little piece of history you would like me to keep an eye out for while I'm at the flea market just let me know.   

short and sweet

I had a slow week at the market, maybe the intense heat drove everyone to the beach, jealous.  Thanks to The Cheese Store of San Diego for getting an arrangement and displaying it at their booth.  Despite the slow week at the market and a busy week at home, I've so been enjoying meeting new people and hearing such kind words from people who stop by.  

trading time

I've been so busy lately, not sure where the time goes.  My hours at work were recently cut back and I've been using the free time to make up for all the things that have gotten messy at my house.  How does that much animal hair accumulate under the sofa?  The good news is the free time is nice for getting down to gardening.  I've been building new garden boxes, reviving sad little succulents, and watching my crookneck zucchini come into their own.  It may not put money in my pocket, but that peaceful feeling of working outside is a good trade off.

I'm back into my "hit the flea market every Sunday" routine and I found some fun stuff for my arrangements.  Wish I could have done more, including planting in the old first aid box but alas, not sure where the time goes.

how cool is this thing?!

Also, tomorrow is the The Old House Fair in our neighborhood.  It's a cute little street festival honoring all the historic homes in South Park, including house tours, crafts, food, etc.  It's about 2 blocks over from the farmer's market and would be the perfect day of fresh produce and historical enlightenment.  I won't be able to make it to the fair, which is sad because old homes are my calling, but there is lots to do for the BBQ we are hosting that evening.  I think after a long and unsettling week, a good beer with friends is more refreshing than a craftsman bungalow tour (maybe not by much, seriously I skip a heartbeat for old homes).

san diego succulent society

Welp, the day after the farmers market, I turned around and put my small profit towards some new babies at the San Diego Cactus and Succulent Society show and sale.  Several times a year they have a sale in beautiful Balboa Park.  It's magical to behold all the different types of succulents I've never seen before.  They all seem to exist in a coral reef on dry land, as if I'm a fish living off their bounty.  I'm quite the amateur grower, and have killed my fair share of the ever hardy succulent, so its nice to talk to experts about different types of soil and propagation techniques.  Next on my being a business woman list is learning the names and categories of most of the plants so I can sound like a pro.

  this pink of the flower is my most favorite color ever

week one

After much anticipation I successfully finished my first week at the farmers market.  It went really well!  I broke even, and even put a little extra in my pocket.  The weather was June gloom at its finest, so there wasn't a huge crowd, but that means as the summer heats up it should only get better. I was put at the very end in an awkward spot, I had expected to be put with all the gift-y type sellers in the middle, but next week I should be in a better place.  It was really fun, I got a lot of positive feedback from passersby, met some new people, and it feels good to be a part of the commerce of our local community.  Several people asked me where I buy my succulents and I couldn't help but glow when I told them I grow them myself.  

I hate to admit it, but I was a little sad when I saw some of my favorite pieces go, if I lived in a big house with a yard, I would probably be the crazy succulent lady unwilling to share, but I'm sure they went to good homes, and selling things is how a business works.  Luckily, there is always the joy of hitting the flea market and finding new favorites, which I will have to do quite often if things go well.

announcement!

After quite a lot of talk, I will be officially selling my succulent arrangements at the farmers market!

I was able to get a space at our much loved, up and coming, and just around the corner farmers market.  Starting this Saturday, June 2, little grey gull succulents will be at the Golden Hill Farmers Market from 9:30am-1:30pm.  I will be there every Saturday for the foreseeable future, so I hope things go well!  This market is great, it's centrally located, they have amazing food to come grab for lunch, lots of fresh produce, and if you live in the area their CSA box can't be beat.  

I've been working hard over this past long weekend trying to get everything together, but it still feels like there is so much to do, and I have to go back to work tomorrow.  But I have been anticipating this for a long time, so its just a matter of organizing my hoarding and planting a few new arrangements.  I'm so nervous!